The Houston Rookie League (HRL) made it’s
way to Richmond, Texas for the second tournament of the Series, November
3, 2002. This time, 36 three-player teams, 13 youth teams and 23
rookie teams, made their way out for what would prove to be a day of fun
in the mud.The forecast for the day called for rain,
but it looked as though the tourney at Brazos Survival Games might catch
a break from it. Teams were walking the field early, sloshing
through the mud and water that was still present from the previous days
of rain. Cars lined the road to Brazos and the parking lot was full,
as teams set up for the day’s events. The concession stand was up
and running again, filling the stomachs of hungry players,
parents, and staff that didn’t have a chance to eat on their way.
National Paintball Supply was on hand to provide paint for the tournament.Three fields were used for this event,
a spools field, a pipes hyper-ball field, and a concept hyper-ball field.
Each field was well designed, with each bunker placed in great
position. All the fields had a new elements added to them for the
day though, water and mud.At 8 o’clock a players meeting was held,
going over the rules for the day, a modified NPPL 100 point system, changed
from last year’s 50-point system. Boundaries
were explained, and with all the water and mud everyone was reminded to
watch their step, and watch out for fire ants floating in the
water.After everyone was chronoed the first
games of the prelims started off at 9 o’clock, with every team playing
hard. Many parents and teams watched the fierce competition,
as every team tried to max each game. The mud made for some interesting
games. The rain started to come down shortly after
the prelims started and players were sliding into bunkers hard, in a spray
of water, and occasionally a player over slid the bunker
they were running for.Unfortunately, the day was not with out
its problems. Many
of the players were having gun problems due to all the rain, and a few teams had to forfeit the tournament because
they ran out of guns and couldn’t keep them up and running.At the end of the 36 game prelims, each
team playing 6 games, the points were totaled, giving everyone a break
from the rain and cold. Some teams sat around a campfire
started to try and help them warm up and dry off a bit. Many players
went out to their vehicles to change and get out of their drenched clothes.
A raffle prize drawing was held. Competitors were given tickets as
part of their entry, and the tickets couldn’t be bought.The results of the prelims were ready,
and the players eagerly awaited the announcement, wanting to know if they
made the cut. Eight teams from Youth and 12 from Rookie
took the field. The competition got tougher; every team wanted their
shot for the finals. The Youth finals saw PBZK taking first.
2nd, Team Wipeout. 3rd, F8 Blue. 4th, Z-RO. 5th, Guys
on The Couch. The Youth division allows a player who is under 15
to compete with the same rules as the Rookie division.The Rookie finals had F8 Black taking
first. 2nd, Alliance. 3rd, Glacier Rush. 4th, Command
Post. 5th, FUBAR Scenarios.Even after the winner’s were announced,
that wasn’t the end of the fun in the mud. As everyone knows, where
there’s mud, there’s almost always someone stuck in it, even
National Paintball. Players and spectator got behind the National
truck to push as a four-wheel drive truck was pulling it out.
They then went to help anyone in need of getting out of the mud.New players are always welcome to HRL,
friendly players with a good attitude are the only requirements.
It’s an unlimited, tournament paint only event. There are four events
left in the season. The HRL will make its way back to Tanks World
of Paintball on December 8th for the next tournament in the series.
The deadline for registrations is December 6th. More information
can be found at www.houstonrookieleague.com. Special thanks to National
Paintball Supply for their support, and to Paintball Maxx, JT USA, Worr
Games, Odyssey, and Redz for helping sponsor the tourney.